Today is the 20th Sunday of the Year C in ordinary time. The readings of today points out the fact that the truth will always stand the test of time. Irrespective of how people struggle to silence the truth or the good, or what is positive. Over time, it will always resurface because it is not like when we tell lies or that which is not the truth. My brothers and sisters in Christ, from the first reading the prophet Jeremiah presents the facts to the people, telling them that Jerusalem is going to fall. This was happening at a time when Jerusalem was under siege by a foreign army. The people were not comfortable with the prophecy of Jerimiah, so they wanted to do away with Jeremiah and he was thrown into a cistern containing mud, where he will starve to death.
However, God had to use somebody to bring out Jeremiah from the Cistern. Thus, Jerimiah was rescued and triumphed in that given situation. My brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes we find ourselves in similar situation like that of the prophet Jerimiah in today’s 1st reading. Sometimes when we speak the truth, people undermine us or fight against us. This is simply because the truth we have spoken is challenging them, it’s making them uncomfortable; and this may make us an endangered species. Dear friends in Christ, when we have God on our side we do not need to be afraid; especially as we stand for the truth, with good intention and without bias.
Dear friends in Christ, on this 20th Sunday of the year, we are invited to always accept the truth, to learn to speak the truth; not minding who gets hurt in the process. We are called to stand for the truth at all times, as people of God and children of God; even when speaking the truth is going to pitch us against the powers that be. One with God is majority, he has the final say in any given situation. Thus, with God on our side, we have no need to be afraid. He has the final say! My brothers and sisters in Christ, the second reading encourages us to strive to live a life that is devoid of sin. We are called to make sincere effort and be assured that God will continue to strengthen us and grant us the graces we need to be true children of God and remain united with him.
In the gospel reading of today, Jesus points out the fact that those who are willing to stand with him, will face oppositions. This is because their life will always challenge all those around them. It can be even members of our immediate family or friends. The question today is, how many of us are willing to stand with God? To stand with him simply means we are standing for the truth, we are striving to stay away from sins and evil and everything that is not of God. If we do this, we can be rest assured that the grace of God will abound in our lives. Let us strive to always be people of the truth at all times and experience the blessings of God.
Let us pray on this 20th Sunday of the year, that God will grant us the graces we need to stand by the truth irrespective of who is involved. Peace be with you! Amen!